Senior AI Research Engineer

The MITRE Corporation; McLean (VA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading not-for-profit tech organization is seeking an AI Researcher to develop and secure AI systems. This role involves working on advanced AI technologies while providing technical leadership to teams. Candidates should have significant experience in AI, cybersecurity, and excellent communication skills. The position is hybrid with a focus on impactful work for public interest.

Benefits

Competitive benefits

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years experience in artificial intelligence.
• Hands-on experience with AI and cybersecurity technologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Research and develop AI capabilities focused on security.
• Lead cross-functional teams for AI/ML solution implementation.
• Convey complex AI concepts to diverse audiences.

Skills

AI security

Python

Machine learning

AI-enhanced cybersecurity

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in artificial intelligence or related

Advanced degree in computer science or related

Tools

AI coding libraries

Job description

Overview

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges—and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We\'re making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us.

Department Summary:

MITRE’s Trustworthy & Secure AI Department within the Artificial Intelligence and Autonomy Innovation Center consists of a diverse team united by a passion and a sense of urgency to harness trustworthy and assured artificial intelligence (AI) to help solve problems in the public interest. The Trustworthy & Secure AI (TSAI) Department supports our sponsors\' missions by delivering capabilities for securing and increasing trust in AI-enabled systems, including data driven AI risk awareness and mitigation, AI red teaming, and trusted tools and techniques for applying AI in high consequence environments. The TSAI Department works across government, industry, and academia to provide, assess, and shape trustworthy and secure AI systems to address complex mission needs for our sponsors. Our work provides opportunities to address real-world challenges in the rapidly developing field of AI assurance, and to research and prototype new methods to address mission needs. We are looking for highly motivated, adaptive, and self-directed candidates to perform research, development, engineering, evaluation, and integration of AI and large language models (LLMs). We are looking for expertise in AI and machine learning (ML), particularly the development, training, and use of LLMs.

Responsibilities

The position involves researching, developing, evaluating, and integrating AI capabilities, with a particular focus on securing AI systems and integrating AI across cyber operations, especially for LLMs. Specific responsibilities will include:

• Work in and provide technical leadership to cross-functional teams to develop and implement AI/ML solutions, including capabilities that leverage LLM technology

• Analyze AI use cases and recommend secure and trustworthy solutions to sponsors

• Evaluate technology solutions in the context of mission data and workflow needs, and provide actionable recommendations

• Convey complex ideas to non-technical audiences through briefings and/or white papers

• Contribute to projects or small teams to solve complex AI security problems for our sponsors

• Contribute to the innovation of new AI use cases applied to cyber operational challenges

Basic Qualifications

• Typically requires:

• a minimum of 5 years experience in artificial intelligence with a Bachelor\'s degree;

• or an advanced degree in a branch of artificial intelligence who can immediately contribute at this job step;

• or equivalent combination of AI-related education and work experience in a branch of artificial intelligence such as generative AI, AI assurance, computational linguistics, machine sensing and perception, machine learning, AI-ready data, decision support, cognitive science, and intelligent systems.

• Hands-on experience with AI and one of the three following technical areas: AI security, AI-enhanced cybersecurity, or AI-accelerated cyber operations

• Demonstrated advanced skills with Python and standard AI coding libraries

• Ability to work independently to learn new technologies, methods, processes, frameworks/platforms, and systems

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to articulate challenging technical concepts to both lay and expert audiences

• Active DoD or IC TS (including interim-TS) Clearance with an ability and willingness to obtain maintain a TS/SCI Clearance with a CI poly.

• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, or related disciplines

• Track-record of successful deployment of AI/ML systems or components that have been used by customers or stakeholders outside of a lab/experimental setting

• Active IC or DOD TS/SCI security clearance with CI Poly.

• Knowledge of advances in AI for cyber or AI security capabilities in industry and academia.

Clearance & Location

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

Top Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

Top Secret/SCI

Work Location Type:

Hybrid

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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Benefits information may be found here (https://careers.mitre.org/us/en/benefits) .

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